It started with the morning sun,

it hovered over the earth,

warming it with its wisdom.

But the grey clouds shaded it

from the truth.

 

The ocean rose with great force,

leaving people to wonder.

White caps breaking, shattering,

into pieces that would never

be put back together.

 

How could they heal after such a storm?

Each day melted into another.

Rain poured like tears,

endless tears from the sky.

 

The dark clouds should’ve warned them,

but they came so often.

Forceful wind pushed back the layers

of what they had become.

 

People fled.

There was nowhere to go.

Anger drifted over the land like fog.

When it lifted, everything was gone.

 

Where was the sun?

Where were the stars?

Such light should’ve never faded.

 

Cold.

Brittle pain edged its way through their floating souls.

There was no color.

 

The roaring sea settled down with each breath lost.

Millions never stood again.

The white sand dirtied with fear,

corrupted with lies.

 

Bodies shifted.

The earth cracked.

Lightning struck.

It was too much to swim in.

 

Far from who they were.

Far from their core.

Sewn into a web that kept them there

for an eternity.

 

 

 

Dancing out of the Fire

 

Her heart danced.

She was like light that sifted through time and swayed with thought

Where to? She wondered

 

No one to chase her

She was free

The birds took to flight and lifted her with them

Their wispy feathers brushing up and down, weaving her through the clouds

 

The fire that once burned so long ago

Had been ignited

She created sparks with each flying moment

 

Sounds of spring were coming

She could hear them from far away

They sounded like dandelions that blew in the wind

Bringing wishes

 

A ballet of dreams whispered in her ears

Reminding her that they had been there all along

 

Shades of colors twirled by her

She grabbed on

They lifted her higher and higher

Climbing toward the rays of radiance

 

Memories tucked in small places

But out of the way

 

Her translucent loveliness glowed

She stood on her toes, pirouetted

Spun as gold flakes fell

She was alive

Breathing

Being

Her

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stem by Stem

 

 

When moonlight calls

I’ll be there

When the rain falls

I’ll be there

 

It’s not my duty, it’s my goal

It’s not my fault, it’s in my soul

 

Distance is no longer

I’ll hold your hand this time 

much stronger

 

Bear with me my friend

It’s tough to speak

I won’t pretend

 

Waiting is where were at

It harbors us

So, don’t you fret

 

I’ll be there

When the light shines through

I’ll be there

Always beside you

 

SHINING LIGHT - SHORT STORY GENRE: SCIENCE FICTION

 

I’m starting to learn that reality is a fickle thing. The truth can be distorted, stretched into new dimensions and not many can see it for what it is.

At school they call me Grey Cloud. I guess because my hair is grey. My name’s really Ellie. According to Mom, I’m a Dream Walker. She says I was chosen by the gods to walk between worlds when I dream. The truth is I don’t really believe her. She has an overactive imagination. She says I must believe.

“Hold my hand,” I say to Sarah. She grabs my pinkie finger which is frozen. “We’ve only got two more blocks.”

“Sissy, I’m tired.”

It’s hard to see. The heavy wind pushes us back as we try to gain momentum. Storms. I’m so done with the storms. Our weather is so unpredictable. One day it’s hot with thick unbreathable air and the next day we have snow. “I know you’re tired. I’m tired too. None of us have slept in days.” I bend over and wrap Sarah’s scarf a little tighter around the lower half of her face. “Look, Mom needs us to get a few things from the store. Tomorrow’s Christmas.”

She nods.

I grab Sarah’s arm. “Stop!”  

A hologram appears in front of us on the sidewalk. An image of the world spins and slowly darkens. “WARNING. Earth is no longer inhabitable. President Genesis has made it mandatory that anyone under twenty-one years old must leave to live on Mars. We have been told that a new habitat has been created there underground.”

“Sissy, look. Lights.”

I hold my forefinger to my lips. “Shush. Stop annoying me.”

“This is the beginning of the end. The world will no longer exist in eight days. There won’t be a year 3000. Global warming. Our ancestors knew plastics were bad for the environment. They knew that they were non-biodegradable. Even though our ancestors knew the consequences of plastic, they continued to make it. Plastic tables, chairs, toys, toothbrushes, glasses, plates, floors, car parts, even houses. The list goes on and on. It was as if they wanted to destroy the planet on purpose.”

Sarah tugs on my shirt. “Sissy, sissy…Look.”

“Will you stop?”

She jumps up and down. “Pretty lights!”

“I don’t care about the stupid lights!” I snatch her hand. “Now, come on.”

There are crowds of people at the store. Most of them are children. They’re the only healthy ones. After three hours of waiting in line, we made our way into the store. “We should’ve come earlier like Mom asked us to. There’s nothing here.” I grab Sarah’s hand and pull her around the store. “No water, bread, non-dairy milk…What are we going to do?”

Sarah shrugs her shoulders.

“Oh good,” I say. “Meatless turkey. Sarah, put it in the front of the cart. I don’t want it to get smashed.”

Sarah wraps her small hands around the cold meatless turkey and drops it into the front. “Sissy?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you hate Christmas so much?”

I start to chew on my lips. “No more questions. We need to get this stuff home so Mom can start cooking.”

We enter the house bubble and lock the chamber door behind us. Slowly, we take our oxygen masks, thermal coats, and gloves off, releasing the pressure. Then we make our way into the living room. The walls are decorated with a paper Christmas tree, some paper lights, and paper stockings. But it doesn’t feel like Christmas. Not anymore. But that’s fine with me. Every year it comes too early. Mom and Dad get stressed out, fight. Everything I liked about Christmas is gone. And now…How can I leave my family? How? What will happen to my parents?

Christmas morning, Sarah sits by the tree opening her gift. “Mommy,” Sarah says loudly. “Someone’s knocking on the door.”

Mother and Father turn toward each other.

“Ellie, take your sister upstairs,” Mother says.

We sit at the top of the stairs and hide behind the wall. I motion for Sarah to scoot next to me. With care, I peek around the corner.

Father moves in beside Mother, placing a hand at the small of her back, urging her to move forward. She opens the door. Two men are standing there, both wearing white robes with a bluish silver belt.

“We’ve come for Ellie and Sarah,” says the older of the two men. His hair is white, and his skin is pale with eyes veiled by a net of wrinkles.

“No, you can’t,” Mother says.

“It’s orders,” he says.

“We’re their family now.”

“But they’re not your daughters.” His voice is low, but his words are like a crack of a whip.

“We love them and have raised them as our own. We kept them safe as we were asked. They won’t understand.”

“Perhaps not,” he says. “They need to be with their kind. We cannot leave them here to die.”

Mother leans over with her hands on her knees, gasping for air, unclean air.

“G-girls, come down,” Father yells with his voice breaking and his chin trembling.

We slowly come downstairs, taking one step at a time.

Mother and Father rush to our sides and bend down together to hug us. “We will always love you,” Mother says. “Remember that.”

We stare at our parents with tears and confusion.

“Mommy? Daddy?” Sarah says.

“Ellie,” Mother whispers. “Take this.” She hands me a small gift. I tuck it into one of my socks. When the gift touches my skin, there’s a faint glow.

The two men grab our arms and rush us into their silver bullet spaceship. Sarah launches herself at the window, pressing her palms up against the glass. “Mommy! Daddy!” Just like lightning—we’re gone.

We travel through dark vastness that’s scattered with light. It’s like an unbounded continuum of music notes that dance and feed off the rhythm of celestial bodies. All working together as one.

“Where are we?” I ask. “This doesn’t look right. Mars is supposed to be red, not white.”

“We have taken you to the beginning of time,” he says. “Everything you know to be true, isn’t. Humans were created here on planet Zera. Our kind have used other planets as experiments. Earth being one of them. We wanted to see how long it would take humankind to self-destruct. It’s human nature. It lives in our subconscious. We innately know what is right and what is wrong but time and time again we choose to be selfish and greedy. All planets have failed.”

“This can’t be true,” I say.

The man points to a woman with long white hair. She wears a sheer white dress that brushes the sand beneath her. The sky is iridescent, and the air is breathable. There is no hazy fog like home. Shimmering lights hang from the trees and lanterns line the pathways.

“My name is Aster.” She pauses. “You’ve come a long way.”

“Why?” I ask and then look down at my sister who hasn’t stopped crying.

“Christmas day. This day to most was a symbol of what humanity should be but isn’t. It was pure. Earth’s atmosphere used to shine on this day, like a star. We could see it from here. But now, oxygen levels have plummeted. Threat is imminent. And no one can stop it.”

“We can change,” I plead. “I know it. Send us back and I’ll persuade them all to change.”

“My child, it’s not that simple,” she says. “We planted seeds, sent storms of warning, and transmitted messages through dreams. None of it was enough to stop the destruction. Mankind leads with filthy hands. They purposely hurt each other with words. Hatred spreads like wildfires. Oceans of bloodshed. And for what? Nothing. No one gains anything from it. Their hearts have darkened. Their minds have become riddled with jealousy, ungratefulness.”

I narrow my eyes toward her. “So, you punish them with death?”

“No. They punish themselves. Every injurious behavior leaves them emptier inside. They do it.”

“What about my parents? They’re good people. You know that. Why must they die?”

“Life is unfair. Our decisions are based on what the majority does. We cannot single out all the good ones. It would take too long.”

“But doesn’t that make you as bad as they are?”

“Ellie, you do not know what you speak. Your heart has darkened like theirs.” She points into the air. “Men, send these two away.”

One of the men yanks me nearly off my feet and drags me away. The other man marches forward and grabs Sarah by her arm.

Sarah stumbles to the ground. “No!”

I break free from the man’s grip and reach for Sarah, guarding her from the evil men. “Stay away from my sister!” I say, gritting my teeth.

Aster raises her arm and a ray of light pulses from her hand. It separates us. “Girls, please…We don’t want to harm you.”

“Then let us go,” I say.

“Once we erase your memories, then we’ll set you free.”

“But I—”

“No more pain, Ellie. You will live in peace. Isn’t that what you want?”

“What about my sister, and my family…”

Aster shakes her head. “They’ll no longer be your family.”

I blink back tears as Sarah looks up at me with red puffy eyes. She reaches her hand out for mine. Our fingers touch.

“Take them away,” Aster says. “Do not let them sleep. Now go.”

We are put into a white room that has loud piano music blaring into our ears. Sarah cuddles up beside me, holding my hand. Believe…believe…I hear my mother’s soft voice. I take the gift out of my sock and open it. It is a small star with no color. Almost looks as though it’s dead.

“Lights, sissy.”

“Not now, Sarah.”

Sarah stands up and points to the star in my hand. It’s dark.

I throw the star across the room. “Don’t you get it. We’re never going to see Mom and Dad again. Who cares about some ridiculous lights!”

Sarah walks over and picks the star up in her hand and hands it back to me.

I close my eyes, then open them again. The star begins to flicker. But when Sarah removes her hand from mine it turns dark again. I grab her hand and place it back onto the star. It shines but stops. Sleep. Why would they not want us to sleep? “Sarah, close your eyes.”

Sarah closes her eyes and I close mine. The room starts to shake, keeping us from sleeping.

“We’re going to play a game, okay? Let’s pretend we're popcorn. Can you do that?”

Sarah nods with a smile.

“Now close your eyes and think about Mom and Dad.”

She closes her eyes as we are thrown around the room.

“Mom, I need you,” I say. “Can you hear me.”

“Believe, Ellie. It’s within you. Your name means Shining Light.”

I open my eyes. “Sarah, am I the light?”

She nods her head up and down really fast, smiling from ear to ear.

“I believe.” Something inside of me grows. I grab Sarah’s hand and hold it tight and lift the star in my other hand. A ray of light springs from our bodies, sending a colorful radiance through the galaxy.

Earth shines again and so do I.

“Wakeup, sissy.”

I rub my eyes. “Home?”

She drags me downstairs. I smell gingerbread and feel the warmth of the fire. “What’s this? A real tree, stockings, gifts. It can’t be. I must’ve been dreaming.”

Mother kisses me on my cheek.

Father pats my head. “Your hair? It’s white.”

“But how?” I ask.

Mother smiles and gives me a wink.

 

Flash Fiction - A NEW DAY BY ABAGAIL SUMMERS

I wrote A New Day for a flash fiction writing contest. It is about redemption and forgiveness. Without further ado, I present the following video. 

CHAPTER 11 - FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE STORM

 

Nick was still asleep. June slipped from the bed quietly and quickly, trying not to wake him, got dressed, and went into Melody’s room.

June leaned down and whispered, “Baby girl, I’m going to the hospital. I want you to stay here with your dad and grandma.”

She didn’t answer but June could tell she was half awake. She snuggled back into the covers and rolled over.

June left the house and proceeded to her truck, noting that the temperature had cooled markedly since yesterday. The sky was gray, and a steady breeze was blowing the treetops all one direction. She wasn’t sure if it was the weather that was making her feel so uneasy or was it the fact that Nick was back.

Standing outside her father’s hospital room, she grasped the knob and slowly turned, opening the door. Each day, he became frailer; the hospital gown seemed to envelop him.

“It looks like it’s going to storm out there,” June said, trying to take her mind off of how bad her father looked. “Can I get you anything?”

He pointed to the pitcher of water beside his bed. She crossed the room and picked up the pitcher and poured him some water into a cup. He reached for the cup with shaky hands. June placed her hands over her dad’s, helped him hold the cup.

“Thank you, June,” he said, the words were labored. “What’s wrong? You don’t look like yourself.” When he finished speaking, he took a couple agonized, wet-sounding breaths.

“It’s nothing,” she answered. She turned toward the window, letting the silence hang.

“It’s Nick, isn’t it?”

“How’d you know?”

“Because I’ve seen that look before. It looks like you're lost, confused—”

“Stop, please…I can’t take anymore.”

Henry closed his thin lips and nodded.

“He just showed up at our house yesterday. Part of me wants to throw caution to the wind and be a family again but then there’s another part of me that knows better. Some things are just not adding up. Where has he been all this time? And why the heck is he back now? We’ve needed his help, he knows that. Not one phone call, not one…Don’t you think that’s weird?”

Her father held June’s gaze. “I don’t know how to answer that. I’d like to think he’s grown a conscience. But…”

June thought about it before shaking her head. “When he showed up, all I could think about was our love for each other. How I missed it, how I missed him. I feel like I’m at war with myself—like two different people, who want different things. Knowing that whatever I choose, there’s part of me that will regret it forever.”

“You remember sitting on my lap as a little girl. You used to tell me all you wanted to do was sing to help the world.”

She raised her eyes to his, her expression drawn in anguish. “Help the world…yeah, I remember. Didn’t quite happen that way. Instead, the only people I helped were my agent, manager, music promoters, record label, PR companies, producers, sound engineers, and the list goes on. None of it felt right, except for the fans who really enjoyed my music. But it wasn’t enough. I feel like God wants me to do something…But I just don’t know what that something is. And if he’s sending me signs, I’m missing them all. I just can’t see myself as that girl when I’m with Nick.”

“Well, that’s a shame because I love that girl.” He coughed. “You shouldn’t change who you are or what you want to be for that guy,” he said, hearing the desperation in his voice. “This is your future, your hopes and dreams…not his…”

She blinked without speaking, trying to absorb what he’d said.

Doctor Watt’s appeared in the doorway. “Hello,” he said, forming each syllable carefully, his manner and posture formal.

June forced a smile as he entered the room. “Hi,” she replied.

“Glad I caught you, we’re releasing your father today.” He could see the concern on June’s face. “I’m sorry but there’s nothing more we can do.”

June swallowed and nodded, knowing it would be good for him to be home again, a place he loved with people he loved.

Doctor Watt’s spoke quickly but kindly. “I know this is difficult. We’ve made a call into hospice for you.”

June bit her lower lip and nodded again. Several seconds passed as she processed everything. She never imagined this. She imagined her dad growing old with her mom and living in the house where she grew up. But not this. Seemed so unfair. Cancer was not only erasing her father, but it was also erasing her family.

When they arrived home, the sun had burned its way through the clouds. June looked around for Nick, hoping he would help her, but he was nowhere to be found. So, June, by herself, set up Daddy’s hospital bed in the living room, where light flowed through the windows.

June later entered the living room, after Henry had been sleeping for hours.  

He slowly angled up in the bed, the pain at the base of his spine twinged through his body. Slowly, he reached for the coffee table that set next to his bed. With his hands trembling, he gently picked up a letter that was folded in half. “Here.”

As he handed the letter over to her, she looked down at his hands and took it. She unfolded it carefully. It read:

 

My Love,

I’m writing this letter because I don’t know how else to tell you how sorry I am.

          Mally, falling in love with you has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. As hard as it is for us now—I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

          I’m sorry I haven’t been the same man you fell in love with. I became a villain, a person I had no desire to be. I let cancer take over not only my body, but my heart. It grew dark, scared, and lonely. And I didn’t want you near me to see such self-destruction.

          This is the reason I pushed you away. I thought it would be best to have you hate me rather than leave you with a broken heart.

          I want you to know, I treasure our time together, however brief. You made me a happy man. Had you not been in my life, I think a vital part of me would have simply withered away. You made me want to be better. With my memories of our life—I feel at peace with dying.

          You have every right to be mad at me. I not only hurt you in the most terrible way, but I tried to take away our love. But a love like ours, will never die, not even with me. I miss you, miss your sassy remarks, your laughter, your pretty singing, wry smile, even your nagging. Most of all, I miss having you as my friend.

          Mally, it’s time for you to live your life. When the river of life pushes you along with time, just know, I’ll be there with you.

I love you,

Henry

 

When she finished reading the letter, she wandered outside and stood with unsteady legs on the front porch. Mally and Melody were swinging lightly and reading one of Melody’s books.

Mally looked up. “Everything all right?” she asked.

June slowly walked over to them and handed her Mamma the letter.

Mally didn’t want to take it.

“Please.”

Mally turned to Melody. “Sweet girl, will you get your grandma a sweet tea?”

Melody grinned and scooted off the swing and ran into the house. June waited a moment for her mother to read the letter silently to herself, then she gently sat next to her on the swing. For a terrible, delicate moment, time stopped between them, the world caught it’s breath.

Mally lifted her head and released her tight shoulders. “All this time…”

“I know Mamma. None of this seems fair, none of it.”

Mally’s eyes filled with tears. “How can I say good-bye to the man I love? How?”

Tears slid down June’s cheeks. “I love you, Mamma.”

Mally rose to her feet and walked into the house, June followed in unison. Mally stood in the hallway that led to the living room, staring at her husband, his rail thin body, pale skin. She couldn’t handle much more than a few minutes. She closed her eyes, sighed deeply, June heard how long and how hard her mother had been avoiding this very moment.

Melody came up beside Mally holding the tea, proudly in her hands, being careful not to spill it, though it was filled to the rim.

June leaned down and took the glass from Melody. “Thank you, sweet girl,” she said with a slight smile. Although Melody was only eight years old, she could sense the gravity of the moment. She grabbed her grandma’s left hand. Normally, her grandma would react, but not this time. Her eyes remained glued to her husband, noting how much he had changed in such a short period of time.

Henry sighed tiredly, gazed up at Mally through sad, watery eyes. “I’m sorry.” His thready voice floated on the sunlit air.

June took Melody’s other hand and held it. The three of them walked toward Henry’s bed. Melody let go of their hands and laid her head down on her grandpa’s chest. Henry reached out, shaking, caressed her soft hair. “I heard you reading one of my favorite books to your grandma, The Falling Raindrop.” Henry coughed. “You know why I like that book so much?”

Melody lifted her head.

“Because the raindrop reminds me of myself. As he falls, his happiness vanishes. He suddenly realizes he’s falling and not flying, he’s scared, alone, afraid of what might happen to him. He misses out on the joy, he misses out on everything, until he sees a glow and he can’t stop himself from crashing into it, but instead of disappearing, something magical happens. The little raindrop rises and joins the clouds once more.”

“Grandpa, are you going into the clouds?”

“Melody, I’m going to rise and be with God. He’ll take care of me as he has done so on earth.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

“And I’m going to miss you too,” he said as tears ran down his cheeks. “Will you do something for me?”

“Anything.”

“Good,” he whispered. “Be a big girl and look after those two. They’re troublemakers, you know.”

Melody let out a laugh and looked up at her mom. “You got it.”

June leaned down and kissed her father’s forehead. “Melody, can you help me fix dinner?”

Melody hugged her grandpa so tightly; you could see him grimace a little from the pain. But he didn’t stop her.

When they were gone, Henry sighed, pulled the covers up. “She’s a good kid.” His voice was almost too quiet to hear.

“I thought we would never see each other again.”

“And yet…here we are.” Henry coughed blood into a wad of tissue. “The thought of you being alone, without me…”

Mally leaned down, kissed his wet cheek. “I know…I wish we could start again without all the noise and stress. Just the three of us, together, loving each other the way we should and enjoying each day like it’s our last. I wish so badly for that time back. I’d forgive you and—”

He interrupted. “Mally.”

“Yes.”

He reached up, his hand shaking, and touched Mally’s cheek. “I wouldn’t change a day in our life, not one. Because even when we were at our worst, we both knew our love could never be broken or changed by anything. Didn’t we?”

She smiled and let the tears roll down her face, no holding back, none. She submerged her fear, her anger…and let the light into her heart. “You’re the love of my life…I love you, Henry.”

Henry’s hand fell from Mally’s face, thumped onto the bed. He struggled to take one more breath, fought so hard for one more breath…but the air left his body and never returned.